Stranger in My Own Country

For years police brutality and racism have been hidden. The only exposure came through the survivors of said brutality, the media, and those racists dumb enough to take pictures of their crimes. Although many can argue arrogance instead of stupidity considering many of those people were never prosecuted for their crimes.

It wasn't until the rise of smartphones and social media, that now, that many of those crimes are now being caught on camera and video. These brazen acts still have found that the culprits haven't been held accountable which as lead to protests and boycotts. Some protests have become violent leaving critics to use the violence as an excuse to label people of color as the catalyst for the unrest in the country. These violent acts have given way to BLM, the movement! However, the impact this has had on me emotionally and mentally has really forced me to look at my country with contempt.

I live in an area that was predominately Republican. Trump supporters were out spoken and bold in their support. However, as their support for Trump became more vocal and in your face, my contempt for them grew. It has grown (notice the tense) to such a degree that when I see a Trump sign, I hate it as much as I do the confederate flag. Now it is worth noting that many whites will say that every Trump supporter isn't racist. However, if they supported the racist policies and rhetoric then I view you as an oppressor. I witness many people riding through my community with pick up trucks and jeeps with huge Trump flags flying at the rear. This sends me into a rage that is beyond comprehension. This occurs because I view this as a form of intimidation black citizens. How do I get beyond these feelings of resentment?

I feel like a stranger in my own country.